[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Phebagirl', 'G')ood Day From Pheba From the Farm:
My mental state?
Oh goodness. How do I describe this.
I have Lupus. A person with lupus is suppossed to avoid stress.
I usually do a pretty good job of keeping lupus at bay, and staying cool.
That being said, I have what I can only describe as a constant low level hum in my subconscious. Even when I am not aware of peak oil, I am aware.
I try to remove it by living my life, enjoying myself, coping.
The hum is there, low level, existant, all around me.
I see gas prices, the hum rises in pitch. I work at the food bank, and see people begging not only for food, but for a bit of "gas money", the pitch rises. I see cues and hints all around me, and the pitch rises yet again.
As some of you may know, I was going to teach a class on oil at our local vo-tech center.
I found out yesterday that the class was cancelled due to lack of interest.
Sorry folks, but they are sheeple. They are reality tv watching, cell phone yacking, totally clueless, lets go shopping, economists say everything will be fine, sheeple.
They are McMansions buying, SUV driving, debt ridden, clueless idiots.
They are wasteful, shamefully wasteful, Swiffer wet mop wasteful scum. They mock our only sensible president as the "cardigan doctrine" president.
They are cynical, smart ass sarcastic morons., and I wash my hands of them.
My husband and I have now decided to prepare, hunker down, and do the best we can.

Disrespect? Respect is not a gift, respect is a reward.
These fools don't deserve a reward. They deserve what is coming to them.
I attended a sustainability fair on Saturday and set up a peak oil booth.
The response to peak oil was good but hubby and I were preaching to the choir.
There were several biodiesel vehicles and two electric cars that looked like golf carts.
The folks involved were so egocentric that they could not make a connection as to how everybody else could afford the vehicles, or find the fuel.
The EROEI formula did not seem to make any sense to them and they blew it off.
They waxed eloquent on ethanol and biodiesel.
The only person with any sense was the key note speaker.
A Mr. Murphy. He spoke about conservation.
My mental state. I am frustrated, and somewhat concerned, but have had to stop worrying because it causes lupus flares.
I am preparing by reducing electricity use,
learning to store and rotate large amounts of food. (I buy bulk from a co-op, and we raise a lot of our own food).
Hubby and I are going to be attending a bio-intensive gardening workshop.
I have reduced my medication needs to just one prescription, and a lot of natural stuff.
I feel better on the natural stuff.
I cook all of my food from scratch, and have little reliance on ready to cook.
We do not eat out very often.
I play Nintendo.
Yep, I'm 50, and I love Zelda and Metroid.
Pheba
One of the hardest things for me to give up was my dryer. I love fluffy dry laundry. But, after hubby put up a wonderful set of clotheslines I find that for the most part I prefer air dried laundry. Our country air makes the sheets and towels smell divine. No fabric softener on the planet can match that smell. The only thing I prefer tossed in the dryer, my nightgowns. I find them to be a bit scratchy when line dried. But, I toss them just for a few minutes, then hang them up wet, and they dry soft.
My one energy weakness, hot water!. With lupus, nothing is better than a good hot soak. I take a lot of baths. We heat our hot water with wood, but I am still wasting resources.

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SinisterBlueCat', 'I') am curious. If everything that the doomers say is going to happen, does indeed come to pass... die-off, famine, pestilence and everything else...then were the "sheeple" not indeed better off?

I mean, if 85 to 90% of the world's human inhabitants are doomed to die, (six enter, one leaves) what are the chances of most people anyway? What is the point of having a farm and food stocks...most would not be able to hold on to them....you wake up one morning and your lovely garden is stripped bare.

So, if the doomers are right, then I say the "sheeple" are the lucky ones. If the end is nigh, then the only thing you can do by worrying about tomorrow is ruin today, right? So, by calling them "sheeple" are you making fun of them because you think they are stupid? or because you envy their freedom in not knowing?

I like to come to this board, but it is like drinking too much wine. A little is good, it makes you feel calm and nice...but beware of too much, it can make you sick.

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('VinceG', 'B')ut for the more optimistical part: in the history of mankind, not one single human inhabitant has died of a concept known as Peakoil

[SurvivalAcres]

I have been feeling rather frustrated lately. I founded my own board before finding this forum and after educating myself on Peak Oil, decided I could do something very specific about it. I decided I could prepare for the energy crunch, I'm widely skilled and experienced in a number of fields and have a background in the survival industry anyway. But I didn't want to live like a survivalist, having done that before, I found the lifestyle unattractive and self-defeating in the end.

So, I chose another course of action, community. Commonly known as eco-village. As my awareness of the problem grew, so did the root cause of the problem, how we got here. I learned as much as I can and am still learning. I posted ads for people interested in community and have singularily failed to attract anyone. What I've seen, I'll call "flash-in-the-pans", those that show great interest and last about two weeks (or less) in conversation and dialogue. We haven't gotten anywhere near serious discussions yet.

I'm of the opinion that most people refuse to help themselves. They are addicted to this present paradigm, which I believe is failing before our eyes. I'm not the type to sit around and watch it happen (so I'm not) and am going ahead with my plans and preparations. But it's going to be a lot harder doing this alone - and utterly unnecessary, because a lot of people are going to try and grab onto your shirttail when they realize you're heading in the direction that they need to go - or are already there - but it will be too late in many cases. And I'm going to resent that I think. That I've had to put in a huge amount of work just to get it all done, what I can do by myself if I have to, just to have a bunch of do-nothings try to take advantage of it all later.

I'm not a stingy person, not at all, in fact, I'm quite generous, but I don't understand the unwillingness of people to help themselves. This is the source of my frustration these days. There is time, if we act now, but there will not be time if we act much later. I know how long this will take, about a decade of hard sincere work, and I'm not convinced that we actually have a decade. We are being priced right out of the market on the goods and land and building supplies that we need (unless you go for a minimalist approach, which is something I'm thinking about).

I am also frustrated that if I can educate myself on the issues and what needs to be done, why can't large volumes of other people do that same? I strongly suspect because they simply don't care. They are married to the status-quo and refuse to consider that this civilization has a extremely short history - and an even shorter future.

I'm not looking foward to this future, because I know how hard and how painful and how difficult it will be. It certainly won't be pleasant, easy or fun.

I've become pessimistic and don't believe that there is much worth saving concerning the human race. I write about this a lot on my blog nowadays. I believe we have become a virus, an alien species to the life on this earth, destroying everything we touch and for what? So we can play Nintendo? It simply makes no sense to me. Ancient civilizations had it much better then we do and we could return to this if needed - if we don't totally screw things up between now and then - which we might.

I don't fear death, but it is the hardships that will make the suffering difficult to bear. Not my hardship, I've been through quite a lot in my life and am not particularly afraid of the future. But the hardships that I believe are in the offering for everyone else, people I care about and people who are even now, sitting back and watching me and thinking, "I'll just join up when it's time". I may very well not let you.

I've spent countless hours reading, writing and learning all I can, time which I could have spent making money to better prepare myself and my family. I don't feel any particular obligation to anyone outside of my family, but I still find myself trying to be a change-agent and affect how people perceive these problems, including peak oil, environment, culture, civilization, government and how we should live.

It really would be easier to just cash it all in, give it up and do my own thing and I've seriously considered it. But I don't beleive that such isolation is either healthy or sustaining to be honest. We are social creatures to some degree or another and to go it alone would probably ensure your failure. So I keep plugging away, looking for serious people who aren't playing Internet games. Haven't found any so far.

This board is a good resource for me for information and such like. I don't know yet if there any serious people here. I've been advertising over on my own forum for participants, but I'm not aware of a forum here to do this.

[rogerhb]

From cradle to grave we are promised that life will only get better if (a) we work hard (b) we buy product X.

We don't like the idea that things are going to get worse. We are surprisingly irrational. If you have lived the western life and have a job and have your mortgage, the idea that that could all unwind is so horrible that you blank it out.

[katkinkate]

Its very frightening to turn your back on the way everyone else is doing things. It feels 'safe' in the crowd and takes a great deal of courage, energy and ongoing commitment to turn 180 degrees from where everyone else is going, often in the face of criticism and opposition from family and friends. Especially doing it alone.

I have to admit I'm still balking away from taking the plunge into totally changing my life. I'm already considered a bit of a nut with my strange ideas, I think when I do eventually move to a small bit of ground outside the city and start building a mud hut, they are going to threaten me with 'nice young men in clean white coats' and padded-walled appartments.

[NordicThora]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SurvivalAcres', 'A')ncient civilizations had it much better then we do and we could return to this if needed - if we don't totally screw things up between now and then - which we might.

[SurvivalAcres]

Great response. You said a lot of things that resonate with me. I too, have given serious thought to "going down with the ship". And you also said, "How do we un-learn this way of life? Frankly, I suspect few people are going to do it." Agree. Maybe even me, try as I might.

I've lived the survivalist lifestyle and can say with experience that it's not as satisfying as I'd hoped. Anything that is counter-culture is a challenge, but I think some lifestyles are more of a challenge then others, this being one of them.

I also know people who have simply dropped-out entirely (there is a Yahoo group dedicated to this). Anyway, what I'm trying to say is I've explored the options out there, including being a corporate wage slave, I did that too for many years. In the end, I've found that I'm much better suited to dancing to my own drum and more or less, rejecting all the rest.

My expectations, as it were, are that other people would also realize what I've come to realize, and I suspect that I'm simply asking for too much. My points of view on civilization, society, modern living and such are not popular. People are unfulfilled and even frustrated, but they've yet to make the mental and spiritual journey to understand the source for their discontent. At least, that's how I see it. And I'm not really interested in helping them on their way. I did that once, as indicated in my first post on this thread and it is exhausting. Call me selfish, but I'm tired of trying to effect change!

I've got the energy left to change myself (I hope), and there's plenty of change in me that I'm looking forward to. Actually, I believe that you can only really change yourself anyway, everything else is just seeds planted along the way.

So eco is out and survivalism is dead - what's the happy medium? We've been where we're going...

I also agree on the tribal culture. We've lost this identity and I suspect many of us want it back.

[NEOPO]

Yes "some" of us always realized "something" was missing.

We want more - to be more - to be respected for our ability and not just given a christmas bonus so we can run out and buy more of "x" product.

To be loved for the love we give.
For someone to care about us because we care about them.
I dont mean simply spouse and kids I mean all of community.

frustration - that about sums me up

To hear the rantings of the Specop and his ilk.
To hear the laughter from those who cannot possibly conceive of what is happening.
To know just how serious the situation is.
I tell you it can make a person crazy

My life to this point has been a hard road even in the land of mcmansions.
I was poor from birth and something tells me, even though I have been quite successful in life to this point, that I do not want to see another dirty dollar and would rather be self sufficent and just give a big middle finger to the system that f**** us!!!

I dont want to do anything now but farm and coexist with nature.
If I cannot accomplish this soon I feel I will implode.

I cannot sit and watch shit go down like this - I am pro active and always have been!!!!

I want to charge the Bull yet I am afraid to do it alone........

I look at dancing rabbit and think "yes! that is the answer!" yet I ultimately feel that hungry scavengers will roll right over them when the bad times come.

I sometimes feel very nihilistic.
Dont give me the "button" to gaurd I just might say goodnight to us all as sometimes I feel things are completely hopeless....and then one of my children will ask me "daddy will you play with me?"

[Jake_old]

I feel very much as you do NEOPO although my life experiences are obviously different.

However

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')o hear the rantings of the Specop and his ilk.
To hear the laughter from those who cannot possibly conceive of what is happening.

[threadbear]

Tribal culture is built around connected groups of extended families. There are things I put up with from family that I just wouldn't tolerate from anyone else. This is cross cultural, so the failure of any community where several strangers or even friends get together and try to create a "family" is doomed to failure--until--things actually do get really hideous, and then just maybe for survival's sakes people with loose connections will find the ability to draw closer, even if theyr'e not genetically related, or related through marriage.

Maybe the answer is to keep it really small. If you want to do something with friends, limit it to less than six people.

[NordicThora]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SurvivalAcres', 'M')y points of view on civilization, society, modern living and such are not popular. People are unfulfilled and even frustrated, but they've yet to make the mental and spiritual journey to understand the source for their discontent. At least, that's how I see it.

[Guest]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Anonymous', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('auctionmonster', '(')...) if everything goes does down bad, there will be huge dieoffs, territory wars, wide spread famine.

I think we are headed for an immediate world wide recession possibly great depression but the sheeple will hold on as long as they have realty tv.

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RedJake', 'A') collegue bought me a book of conspiracy theories, and presented it to me in front of a crowded office, much to the amusement of the herded sheep. F***ing wage slaves.

[medicvet]

by the way, I have no idea why it made that post as a 'guest', but it's medicvet..tried to fix it, but couldn't figure out how..

[EdF]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('NordicThora', '.').. Actually I suspect the truth is that behavior and thinking aren't really such separate functions as we moderns seem to believe, but the relevant point for someone who's intellectually inclined is that change can be approached from various angles - not just from thinking. That's part of why information (such as knowing about PO) is not enough to change behavior - habits are deeply ingrained and often they are resistant to superficial change...

[Wallygator]

I was going to start a new thread but then I saw this one and I thought it would be better to post my message here. My post will be somewhat disconnected from the previous writers but in keeping with the original spirit of this thread here goes:

I happened to be in Toronto for a few days last week. When I was looking around me I saw evidence that people were living a fake life. Or more fake than mine. Being a country/town boy I cringe at the thought that I might have to live there shortly. It was 'depressing' being in that environment. Skyscrapers, traffic jams, congested living areas, exorbitant housing prices and that whole consumeristic way of life. On one hand this move is meant to further my career goal toward employment in the airlines. On the other hand I feel that all of my hard work just for the privilege of navigating a Boeing will go to waste. I wish I could wake up tomorrow and this whole flying thing will be erased from my mind. I wish, I truly truly truly wish that I can be cured of my ambitions and that I can take on a more humble job and live a simple life. There are many times that I would like to be a janitor. Fairly simple, not extremely stressful and you dont have to worry about PO destroying your career. Although being 32 years of age I'm thinking like a 60 year old. I'm thinking of abandoning my materialistic pursuits in order to make way for family, a healthy lifestyle, exercise, a healthy spiritual life. Peak Oil is affecting my mental state. I wish someone can help me make the changes in my life that are necessary, or at least I need help to 'see' things in a proper light.

[BabyPeanut]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('auctionmonster', '[')img]http://peakoil.com/modules/Forums/images/avatars/gallery/040.gif[/img]Does anyone else receive peace of mind by just hanging out in these forums?

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

Wallygator there are other options of course. Living in Canada they need bush pilots, who you could pick up bush tips and tricks from. there's alsopilots in the forrest service.

You may want to think seriously about living in the city if it depresses your system that much. There are some mines located in remote areas that fly their people in and out. Why not take a look see?

Will we survive? undoubtedly some will, (at the very least).

I think it would be easier if we had an idea of what to aim for. Waht would an off-the-grid, more tribal life look like? what does a fulfilled life look like when there are no gadgets or toys? what should we gauge real success by? Having a vision may help you and may help inspire others who feel the same but don't know how to find their way to anything different than a wage slaves future. If we know what we want or need or waht it lookos like, we might be able to find our way there a little easier...I think.

I mean mentally and spiritually not in a physical sense.

[the_red_pill]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')Sorry folks, but they are sheeple. They are reality tv watching, cell phone yacking, totally clueless, lets go shopping, economists say everything will be fine, sheeple.
They are McMansions buying, SUV driving, debt ridden, clueless idiots.
They are wasteful, shamefully wasteful, Swiffer wet mop wasteful scum. They mock our only sensible president as the "cardigan doctrine" president.
They are cynical, smart ass sarcastic morons., and I wash my hands of them.